The unyielding spirit of determination has once again brought pride to Southeast Sulawesi (Sultra). Muhammad Muliadi, a young Taekwondo athlete from Kendari and a student of Universitas Terbuka (UT) Kendari, successfully won a silver medal at the 2025 National Martial Arts Week (PON Beladiri) held in Kudus, Central Java.
Competing at Djarum Arena Kaliputu on Sunday (October 12, 2025), Muliadi delivered an impressive performance from the very first round. His consistency and composure carried him all the way to the final match in the Men’s Senior U87 KG category.
“The match was tough, but I’m proud to bring home a medal for Southeast Sulawesi,” said Muliadi after the match.
His coach, Balung Mandalangi Togala, described Muliadi as a disciplined athlete with the heart of a champion. Before competing in the 2025 PON Beladiri, Muliadi underwent a rigorous selection process held by the Southeast Sulawesi Taekwondo Association (TI Sultra), followed by a one-month training camp (TC) at Bapelkes Kendari, facilitated by KONI Sultra. During the camp, athletes were trained intensively—both physically and mentally—and stayed in dormitories to stay focused on preparing their best strategies for the national competition.
Interestingly, behind the image of a fierce fighter, Muliadi is also a student at Universitas Terbuka Kendari, a university that enables him to pursue excellence without sacrificing his education. The flexibility of UT’s distance learning (PJJ) system has been the key to balancing his academic and athletic commitments.
Muliadi’s love for Taekwondo began when he was still in elementary school. Since then, he has collected a series of prestigious achievements, including 1st Place at the Hasanuddin University National Championship, 1st Place at the 2021 Kapolri Cup, and a Gold Medal at the 2022 Southeast Sulawesi Provincial Games (Porprov Sultra). For Muliadi, every punch and kick represents not just technique, but also the spirit of perseverance and progress. He also hopes that Universitas Terbuka will continue supporting student-athletes in their pursuit of excellence.
Muliadi’s achievement is not only a source of pride for his region but also aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through his dedication to sports, Muliadi contributes to SDG 3, which promotes good health and well-being by raising awareness about the importance of an active lifestyle and physical fitness. Furthermore, his success in balancing education and sports supports SDG 4 on quality education, showing that academic and personal development can go hand in hand.
Muliadi’s story serves as an inspiration—proof that with commitment, support, and equal opportunity, the youth of Southeast Sulawesi can bring pride to their region while contributing to the development of a strong and competitive generation.
